Nothing To Envy

What a book! Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea is a fantastic work that allows the reader to understand life in North Korea to the extent that it's possible.

The Sympathizer

I am a huge fan of Viet Thanh Nguyen's book The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction).

Leonardo Da Vinci

I've never really understood the fine arts:

What does the subject's smile convey?
What do the background plants represent?

I've never been able to answer questions like these, and have often wondered if the whole industry isn't made of the same squishy, stinky stuff that drives the wine-tasting industry). But after reading Isaacson's biography of Leonardo da Vinci, I now realize that doesn't mean I can't have an appreciation for a true artist.

Principles

Ray Dalio's firm Bridgewater manages more than $160 billion of assets. In his book, Principles: Life and Work, he offers some suggestions to the reader who seeks to improve his lot in life.

Interserve Me Up Some Value

Interserve is a UK services and construction company that I have been following for some time. The price has taken a big hit recently, and therefore become a lot more interesting.

Ghost in the Wires

Kevin Mitnick was once the world's most famous hacker. But his deeds got him into trouble with the law, causing him to constantly change identities to stay on the run. In his book Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker he tells us how he did it.

Fortune's Children

Cornelius Vanderbilt was once the richest man in America. Yet none of his descendents just three generations below him could count themselves as millionaires! How did this happen? Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt tells the tale.